BCE Inc. (Bell Canada) — Ethics Grade C-

BCE Inc. (Bell Canada) receives an overall ethics grade of C- (42/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Telecommunications. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 35
• privacy: 40
• consumer: 30
• environment: 55
• humanRights: 50

Documented incidents (3)

• Relevant Advertising Program (medium, 2021) — The company faced an investigation for its program that tracked customer internet usage and TV viewing habits to sell targeted advertising without obtaining explicit, informed consent.
• Mass Layoffs and Dividend Increase (high, 2023) — Bell announced the elimination of 4,800 jobs, the largest layoff in 30 years, while simultaneously increasing dividend payouts to shareholders. The move was heavily criticized by labor unions and the federal government.
• Oligopoly Price Fixing Allegations (medium, 2022) — Along with other major carriers, Bell has been consistently criticized for maintaining some of the highest wireless data prices in the developed world through lack of competition and coordinated market behavior.

Documented good deeds

• Bell Let's Talk — A long-running mental health awareness campaign that has committed over $100 million to Canadian mental health programs and research.

Ethical alternatives

• TekSavvy Solutions — Independent provider known for advocating for lower prices and net neutrality in the Canadian market.